Milton Panthers to honor extensive basketball history with first alumni game

Milton's Joey Murdock and East Hill Christian's Samba Johnson were both Division I college basketball coaches.

Buy Photo

Pensacola High coach Terrence Harris, left, and Milton's Joey Murdock greet each other prior to tipoff in last year's District 1-7A Boys Basketball Tournament final at Milton.(Photo11: Bill Vilona/bvilona@pnj.com)Buy Photo

Milton High will honor its decorated basketball past with a reunion this weekend of the Panthers' most successful teams and players.

The first-ever alumni game is Saturday at 12 p.m. and will salute the five Milton teams which reached the state final four tournament, beginning with the first one in 1973. The other teams were in 1981, '95, '97, 2006. Admission will be $5.

The returning players and teams will also be recognized at halftime of Friday night's football game against Pine Forest at Haywood Hanna Stadium.

The event is a way Milton's second-year coach Joey Murdock hopes can reconnect the past tradition to the current basketball program.

Milton HIgh grad Adam Allen, shown in this 2007 photo against Pensacola HIgh, will be honored as part of Milton High's Athletic Hall of Fame Class on Oct. 28 in football game against Pace. Bruce Graner/News Journal

30 Nov 1996: Running back Elijah Williams of the Florida Gators moves the ball during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU won the game, 24-21. Andy Lyons, Getty Images

26 Nov 1994: Running back Elijah Williams of the Florida Gators runs down the field during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. The teams tied at 31-31. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran /Allspo Scott Halleran, Getty Images

21 Sep 1996: Running back Elijah Williams #25 of the Florida Gators uses his left arm to fend off a pursuing defender from the Tennessee Volunteers while running with the football during a carry in the Gators 35-29 victory over the Volunteers at Neyland S Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images

CROMWELL, CT - JUNE 24: Bubba Watson of the United States celebrates with caddie Ted Scott on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 24, 2018 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) Tim Bradbury, Getty Images

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - JUNE 15: Bubba Watson of the United States plays his shot from the second tee as Jason Day of Australia looks on during the second round of the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 15, 2018 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MAY 10: `of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on May 10, 2018 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Richard Heathcote, Getty Images

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 03: Cortland Finnegan #26 of the Carolina Panthers tries to get a hand on Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2nd quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, UNITED STATES: Mark Everett lies on his back after crossing the finish line to win the men's 800 meter run 14 June at the USA Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis. Everett won with a time of 1:44.37. AFP PHOTO/Matt Campbell (Photo credit should read MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images) MATT CAMPBELL, AFP/Getty Images

Milton grad and Jay resident Boo Weekley plays a shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the THE PLAYERS Championship at the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on May 11, 2017 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Jamie Squire, Getty Images

Boo Weekley high fives his son Aiden, 6, after throwing the first pitch a Blue Wahoos game. The pitch was part of Weekley’s annual BooFest, a festival featuring national and local celebrities. The festival begins tonight and runs through Saturday, July 25. Bill Vilona/bvilona@pnj.com

Boo Weekley of the United States hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the 114th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Course No. 2 on June 12, 2014 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

"There have been great coaches here, great players and great community support here and I just want to honor that and the history," said Murdock, former collegiate assistant coach including at Pensacola State College. "We're trying to do something with an alumni event that has never been done before. Part of it is a fundraiser, but part of it is just trying to bring those guys back and bring the community back to connect with them."

The alumni game will feature brothers Adam and Brandon Allen, both of whom were on the 2006 team which reached the Class 4A championship game before losing to Sarasota Booker, 54-51.

It was the only the time Milton played in the title game. Current Milton principal Tim Short was the Panthers' coach that year. The Allen's youngest brother, Drew, will be a junior on this year's team.

Adam Allen, the star senior on that 2006 team, went on to play for the Florida Gators and finished his career at Rollins

Brandon Allen, a freshman, on that team, went on to play professional baseball in the San Francisco Giants organization before being a walk-on basketball player at Florida State, finishing his career last year during the Seminoles' NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight.

Their father, Randy Allen, was part of Milton's 1981 Final Four team before going on to a decorated career at FSU and then played two seasons in the NBA and later in Europe. Randy Allen won't be playing with his sons Saturday, but will be at the event.

Also playing will be Cortland Finnegan, who didn't play on a Final Four team, but was a multi-sport athlete at Milton and went on to NFL fame as a cornerback during an 11-year career with five different teams.

"We have 25 guys signed up and I/m expecting 40-50 alumni. Now they all won't play, but they will be part of it," Murdock said. "When you go back and look at Milton's basketball history in our area, it is truly historic.

"Having five teams go to the final four is special and we've had numerous Division I athletes and one NBA player (Randy Allen)."

Murdock said the event Saturday will include community volunteers cooking pork barbecue as well as a fish fry for people to enjoy before the game. A private reception for the alumni and VIP sponsors will be Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at Oops Alley's sports restaurant in Pace.